Network test instrument

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus (e.g., network test instrument) for presenting network device diagnostic information in which a listing of network devices discovered via a first network connection (e.g., wirelessly—802.11) to a test network is presented in a GUI of a network diagnostic instrument. Acquired network diagnostic information for a network device selected from the listing of network devices is then presented in the GUI wherein the presented network diagnostic information is acquired via the first network connection (e.g., wirelessly—802.11). Indication (and a link thereto) is provided in the GUI indicating network diagnostic information for the selected network device was also acquired via a second network connection to the test network (e.g., via a wired connection—802.3).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.61/811,573 filed Apr. 12, 2013 which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to test instruments for testing of networks anddevices, and particularly to testing network devices linked either via awireless connection or both a wired and wireless connection to anetwork.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Handheld and portable network testing instruments are becoming moreubiquitous in the computer networking industry. Such instruments can beconfigured as all-in-one Gigabit Ethernet troubleshooter for copper,fiber optic, and Wi-Fi networks. With relatively little training, theseinstruments enable a user to conduct network troubleshooting usingstandardized test scripts tailored for a user's network, services andapplications.

It is noted that when testing wireless 802.11 networks with such testinstruments, network traffic is usually encrypted and is practicallyundecipherable unless the cipher protocol uses a shared secret. It isfurther noted most medium-to-large enterprises have implemented securitymodels that do not use a shared secret. This limits the amount ofinformation that can be learned by network test instruments whenidentifying network devices via 802.11 network traffic to layer 1 andlayer 2 information in the ISO/IEC 7498-1 Open Systems Interconnectionmodel, e.g. signal strength, associated Service Set Identification(SSID), Basic SSID (BSSID), linked Access Point (AP), etc.

It is known that by adding device discovery and identification at layer3 on a 802.3 network where network traffic is usually unencrypted and bygraphical linking the 802.11 discovery and the 802.3 discoverypresentations in the Graphical User Interface (GUI), a network testinstrument can learn and report additional device information, includingIP v4 and/or IPv6 addresses, device name, i.e. DNS, NETBIOS and/or SNMP.

However, while existing test instruments, such as the OneTouch™ ATproduct provided by common assignee Fluke Networks® supported both802.11 discovery and 802.3 discovery, such test instruments provided noindication that a network device was identified through both wirelessand wired discovery systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose and advantages of the illustrated embodiments will be setforth in and apparent from the description that follows. Additionaladvantages of the illustrated embodiments will be realized and attainedby the devices, systems and methods particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof, as well as from the appendeddrawings.

In accordance with a purpose of the illustrated embodiments, in oneaspect, a method and apparatus (e.g., network test instrument) forpresenting network device diagnostic information is described in which alisting of network devices discovered via a first network linking (e.g.,wirelessly—802.11) to a test network is presented in a GUI of a networkdiagnostic instrument. Acquired network diagnostic information for anetwork device selected from the listing of network devices is thenpresented in the GUI wherein the presented network diagnosticinformation is acquired via the first network connection (e.g.,wirelessly—802.11). Indication (and a link thereto) is also provided inthe GUI indicating network diagnostic information for the selectednetwork device was also acquired via a second network connection to thetest network (e.g., via a wired connection—802.3). Upon selection of theindication that information for the selected network device was alsoacquired via a second network connection to the test network, acquirednetwork diagnostic information via the second network connection (e.g.,a wired connection—802.3) for the network device is presented in theGUI.

In further, optional aspects, a graphical user interface for a testinstrument is described. The graphical user interface preferably havinga touchscreen interface. A listing of network devices on the graphicaluser interface is provided with indication that each network device hasnetwork device diagnostic information acquired via a first networkconnection to the network device. An indicator on the graphical displayis also displayed when network device diagnostic information for aselected network device was also acquired via a second networkconnection to the network device wherein the first network connection isone of a wired and wireless connection to the network device and thesecond network connection is the other one of the wired and wirelessconnections to the network device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate variousnon-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the presentdisclosure:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview in accordance with an illustratedembodiment;

FIG. 2A depicts an illustrated embodiment of a test instrument used inthe system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B depicts a block diagram of a test instrument used in the systemof FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict screens shots of the test instrument used in thesystem of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operational steps of a test instrument used inthe system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is now described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which illustrated embodiments of the presentinvention is shown wherein like reference numerals identify likeelements. The present invention is not limited in any way to theillustrated embodiments as the illustrated embodiments described beloware merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in variousforms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that any structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the present invention. Furthermore, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather toprovide an understandable description of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also beused in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplarymethods and materials are now described. All publications mentionedherein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe themethods and/or materials in connection with which the publications arecited. The publications discussed herein are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention.Further, the dates of publication provided may differ from the actualpublication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “astimulus” includes a plurality of such stimuli and reference to “thesignal” includes reference to one or more signals and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is to be appreciated the embodiments of this invention as discussedbelow are preferably a software algorithm, program or code residing oncomputer useable medium having control logic for enabling execution on amachine having a computer processor. The machine typically includesmemory storage configured to provide output from execution of thecomputer algorithm or program.

As used herein, the term “software” is meant to be synonymous with anycode or program that can be in a processor of a host computer,regardless of whether the implementation is in hardware, firmware or asa software computer product available on a disc, a memory storagedevice, or for download from a remote machine. The embodiments describedherein include such software to implement the equations, relationshipsand algorithms described above. One skilled in the art will appreciatefurther features and advantages of the invention based on theabove-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to belimited by what has been particularly shown and described, except asindicated by the appended claims.

As to be described further below with reference to FIGS. 1-4, theinvention according to an illustrated embodiment in one aspect generallyrelates to a network test instrument (200, FIGS. 1 and 2A), method ofoperation (400, FIG. 4), and graphical interface (250, FIG. 2A) suchthat when the network test instrument 200 through both wirelessdiscovery 30 (e.g., via 802.11) and wired discovery 32 (e.g., via 802.3)methods detect a network device (10, FIG. 1) in a test network 100, auser, via GUI 250, selects the device 10 from a summary device listpresented in a GUI 250 preferably categorized either by a wired analysislisting (300, FIG. 3A) or a wireless (Wi-Fi) analysis user interface(350, FIG. 3B). The network test instrument 200 being adapted andconfigured to query both a wired analysis database 260 and a Wi-Fianalysis database 270 for the existence of an entry that preferablycorresponds to a MAC address associated with the selected device 10. Ifthe device MAC address (e.g., the device 10) is found in both databases260, 270, a cross link navigation symbol/button 310 is presented in theGUI 250. Selecting the cross link navigation symbol/button (310, FIG.3A) terminates the current UI window regarding, for instance, wireddetails (window 300 on GUI 250) so as to display device details (window350 on GUI 250) for the selected device 10 for the complementarywireless network type.

With reference now to FIG. 1, an illustrated embodiment is shown inwhich network test device 200 detects and acquires diagnosticinformation of a plurality of network devices 10, 12, 14 coupled to anetwork (e.g., a Local Area Network LAN) 100. It is to be understood andappreciated network 100 may be wirelessly (via preferably a 802.11 link)and/or wired (via preferably a 802.3 link) connected to plural networkdevices 10, 12, 14, etc., which communicate over a network 100 bypreferably sending and receiving network traffic 15 preferably viainteraction with server 20 or other networking components thereof. Thetraffic 15 may be sent in packet form, with varying protocols andformatting thereof. Examples of the network devices 10, 12, 14, etc.,include (and are not limited to) multiple network devices such asrouters, switches, hubs, servers, client computers (e.g., desktop PCs,laptops, workstations), and peripheral devices networked together acrossa network 100 such as for instance a local area network (LAN) and/or awide area network (WAN). In such networks, data is typically exchangedbetween a requesting device, such as a client 10, and a respondingdevice, such as a server 20.

A network test instrument 200 connects to the network 100 via bothwirelessly 30 (e.g., via preferably 802.11 techniques) and via a wiredconnection 32 (e.g., via preferably 802.3 techniques). It is noted,network test instrument 200 in an illustrated embodiment wirelesslyconnects 30 via a Wi-Fi connection used by network 100, and establishesa wired connection 23 to network 100 via preferably a shared hub 34 orlike switch component type connected in network 100. In regards towirelessly acquiring Basic Service Set Identification (BSSID) fordetermining a MAC address for the network devices (10, 12, 14, etc.), itis to be understood and appreciated test instrument 200 in accordancewith an illustrated embodiment may use a first process in which the testinstrument 100 uses ARP and PING sweeps with network 100 to acquire APMAC and BSSID network device information. Test instrument 200 mayadditionally use a second process in which test instrument 200 utilizesSNMP BSSID queries with network 100 to acquire AP BSSID network deviceinformation. Thus, it is to be understood, network test instrument 200is adapted and configured, through both wireless discovery 30 (e.g., via802.11) and wired discovery 32 (e.g., via 802.3) methods, to detect andacquire diagnostic device information from network devices 10, 12, 14,etc., coupled either wirelessly or by wire to test network 100. It is tobe further appreciated network device Layer 1 and 2 information ispreferably acquired via a wireless connection (e.g., 802.11) and networkdevice Layer 2 and 3 information is preferably acquired via a wiredconnection (e.g., 802.3). Layer 1 and 2 information acquired via a802.11 connection typically includes information relating to: signalstrength; associated Service Set Identification (SSID); Basic SSID(BSSID); and linked Access Point (AP), etc. Layer 2 and 3 informationacquired via an 802.3 connection typically includes information relatingto MAC addresses, IPv4 and/or IPv6 addresses, device name, Domain NameServer (DNS); NETBIOS and/or SNMP, etc.

Network test instrument 200 includes a user interface 250 enabling auser to interact with the network test instrument 200, and to operatethe instrument 200 and obtain data therefrom, whether at the location ofinstallation or remotely from the physical location of networkattachment. Network test instrument 200 preferably includes hardware andsoftware, CPU, memory, interfaces and the like to operate, connect to,monitor and acquire network device 10, 12, 14 on the network 100, aswell as performing various testing and measurement operations,transmitting and receiving data and the like. One or more instruments200 may be operating at various locations on the network 100, providingmeasurement data at the various locations, which may be forwarded and/orstored for analysis. Network test instrument 200 preferably includes asoftware driven analysis engine 22 which acquires diagnostic informationfrom network devices 10, 12, 14, via either wirelessly 30 (e.g., 802.11)or wired 32 (e.g., 802.3), and preferably stores data received via awireless connection 30 in a first database/memory location 260 forwireless (e.g., 802.11) captured data, and preferably stores datareceived via a wired connection 32 in a second database/memory location270 for wired (e.g., 802.3) captured data.

With reference now to FIG. 2B, shown is a block diagram of a testinstrument/analyzer 200 in accordance with an illustrated embodiment,wherein the instrument 200 may include network interfaces 50 whichattach the instrument 200 to a network 100 via multiple ports.Instrument 200 further preferably includes: one or more processors 52for operating the instrument 200; memory such as RAM/ROM 54 (e.g.,databases 260, 270); persistent storage 56; GUI display 250 user inputdevices 58 (such as, for example, keyboard, mouse or other pointingdevices, touch screen, etc.); power supply 60 which may include batteryor AC power supplies; a Wi-Fi transceiver 60 which wirelessly (e.g., via802.11) attaches instrument 200 to network 100 and other externaldevices.

For instance, network test instrument 200 may be utilized with theOneTouch™ AT Network Assistant handheld instrument provided by FlukeNetworks®, as shown in FIG. 2A. The OneTouch™ AT Network Assistant 200is essentially an all-in-one Gigabit Ethernet diagnostic instrumentadapted and configured for copper, fiber optic and Wi-Fi networks.Operational aspects can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,919,248 (filed Mar. 25, 1997) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,372 (filed Nov.27, 1996), and U.S. Patent Publication Nos.: 2012/0291115 (filed May 12,2011) and 2013/0046809, all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Essentially, instrument 200 provides a client view (via GUI 250) ofnetwork performance enabling a user to expeditiously troubleshoot andsolve problems. Certain operational and functional features of networktest instrument 200 include (and are not limited to): an integratedEthernet tester for copper, fiber optic and Wi-Fi in which instrument200 preferably includes multiple 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 Ethernet testports, multiple 100/1000 Mbps SFP fiber optic transceiver ports and aninternal 802.11 a/b/g/n dual band radio to simultaneously test wiredEthernet and wireless Wi-Fi networks. Instrument 200 is adapted andoperational to conduct wired network analysis whereby instrument 200provides automated discovery of copper and fiber-connected devices(e.g., 10, 12) and key device attributes to enable sorting by attributesto obtain multiple views into the wired network 100. For example, sortby IPv4 or IPv6 address to identify used and available addresses.Instrument 200 is adapted and operational to conduct Wi-Fi networkanalysis whereby instrument 200 provides automated discovery of Wi-Fidevices (e.g., 12, 14) and key device attributes to enable sorting byattributes to obtain multiple views into the wireless network 100. Forexample, sort by signal strength to troubleshoot Wi-Fi coverage issues.Sort by MAC manufacturer to discover Wi-Fi devices (e.g., 10, 14) bytype, sort by channel to identify channel spacing problems and sort byauthorization status to find potential security violations.

With reference now to FIG. 4, and with the system components describedabove, a method of operation 400 for instrument 200 will now bediscussed in accordance with certain illustrated embodiments forinstrument 200. It is noted that the order of steps shown in FIG. 4 formethod 400 is not required, so in principle, the various steps may beperformed out of the illustrated order. Also certain steps may beskipped, different steps may be added or substituted, or selected stepsor groups of steps may be performed in a separate application followingthe embodiments described herein.

Starting at step 410, a illustrative method of operation (referencedgenerally by numeral 400) of instrument 200 includes establishing a dataconnection between instrument 200 and each device (10, 12, 14, etc.)connected to a network 100 via either one or both of a wirelessconnection (e.g., via a 802.11 connection) and/or a wired connection(e.g., via a 802.3 connection) to the network 100. Once a connection isestablished between instrument 200 and a network device (e.g., device10), instrument 200 is adapted and configured to acquire deviceinformation pertinent to its connection method, step 415. For instance,information acquired via a wireless (e.g., 802.11) connection to device10 will results in capture of information available wirelessly includingfor instance (but not limited to) the aforesaid layer 1 and 2 deviceinformation. Similarly, information acquired via a wired (e.g., 802.3)connection to device 10 will results in capture of information availablevia a wired connection, including for instance (but not limited to) theaforesaid Layer 2 and 3 device information.

Next, in step 420, device 10 information acquired via a wirelessconnection (e.g., 802.11) is preferably stored in a first memorylocation (e.g., database 260) for information captured wirelessly, andinformation acquired via a wired connection (e.g., 802.3) is preferablystored in a second memory location (e.g., database 270) for wiredcaptured information. If information for a device (e.g., device 10) isacquired by instrument 200 both wirelessly (e.g., 802.11) and by wire(e.g., 802.3), then the wirelessly captured information is stored in theaforesaid first memory location (e.g., database 260) for wirelesslycaptured information and the wired captured information is stored in theaforesaid second memory location (e.g., database 270) for wired capturedinformation. Preferably, the aforesaid device information is stored inboth the wireless memory location/database (260) and the wired memorylocation/database (270) in accordance with a selected MAC address for agiven device (e.g., device 10). It is to be understood a Media AccessControl address (MAC address) is a uniquely identifying network addressassigned to network interfaces for communications on a physical network,(e.g., network 100). Typically, MAC addresses are used for numerousnetwork technologies and IEEE 802 network technologies, includingEthernet. MAC addresses are typically used in the media access controlprotocol sublayer of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) referencemodel.

It is to be appreciated that determining whether devices in the wiredand wireless databases are the same device requires preparation andanalysis in both databases. The wired database preferably uses SNMP,ARP, NetBEUI, ICMP, and other protocols to elicit as much information aspossible about each device. This act of sending queries and receivinganswers is called “Active Discovery” because devices are being activelycommunicated with on the network. Through the information gained byactive discovery, the wired database can determine whether a device hasmultiple MAC addresses and/or IP addresses.

The wireless database is populated primarily by listening to networkpackets (as opposed to actively communicating with devices to elicitinformation). This listening method of gathering information is termed“Passive Discovery”. The wireless database preferably uses a matchingtechnique algorithm to determine whether two different wireless MACaddresses are actually the same device.

It is noted both the wired and wireless databases use Active and Passivediscovery, but wireless uses primarily Passive and wired uses primarilyActive. Additionally, both the wired and wireless databases can mergemultiple MAC addresses into a single device, or in other words, devicescan have multiple MAC addresses. Additionally, it is to be appreciatedthat both the wired and wireless databases can determine the IPaddress(es) of devices.

In operation, control logic assumes that if any of the multiple MACaddresses of a device in one database matches any of the multipleaddresses of one device in the other database means that the two devicesare in fact the same device. It is further assumed that if any of themultiple MAC addresses of a device in the wired database matches any ofthe multiple addresses of one device in the wireless database using theaforesaid matching technique mentioned above, this is indicative thatthe two devices are the same device.

It is additionally assumed that any of the multiple IP addresses of adevice in one database matching any of the multiple IP addresses of onedevice in the other database is indicative that the two devices arelikely the same device. The reason that IP addresses only lead to alikelihood of a matching device is because some wireless devicesactually share an IP address, and further confirmation is required toverify the match—which confirmation can come through SNMP queries.

Instrument 200 is further operational and functional, via its GUI (250),to provide a listing of network devices (e.g., 10, 12) discovered via awired network connection (FIG. 3A), or upon user preference, a listingof network devices (e.g., 10, 14) discovered via a wireless networkconnection (FIG. 3B), step 425. Once the user selects which aforesaiddevice listing to view (e.g., the listing of devices captured via awired connection—FIG. 3A), a user preferably selects a listed device(e.g., device 10), step 430. The network/captured information relatingto that selected device (e.g., device 10) is then retrieved from theappropriate wired or wirelessly captured memory location/database (e.g.,database 270 for wired captured information) and is displayed to theuser via the instrument GUI 250 (e.g., window segment 300 of FIG. 3A),step 435.

Preferably, upon the aforesaid device selection of step 435, instrument200 determines if information was also captured for the selected device(e.g., device 10) via the other connection method (e.g., wireless), step440. Preferably, and in accordance with an illustrated embodiment, thisis accomplished by instrument 200 through determining if a matching MACaddress for the selected device (e.g., device 10) (step 430) is used tostore information in the other memory location/database (e.g., database260 for wireless captured information) by querying said other memorylocation/database (e.g., database 260). If yes, (e.g., a matching MACaddress is found in the other memory location/database) then this isindicative that device/network information for the selected device (step430) (e.g., device 10) was captured both via a wired and wirelessconnection with instrument 200, and indication is presented in the GUI250 (e.g., symbols 310, 360) indicating information was also capturedvia the other connection method for the selected device (e.g., device10), step 445. User selection of this indication (e.g., symbol 310)causes instrument 200 to retrieve the network/captured informationrelating to the selected device (e.g., device 10) from thememory/database (e.g., database 260 for wireless captured information)relating to this other (e.g., wireless) connection method so as to thenbe displayed via the instrument GUI 250 (e.g., window segment 350 ofFIG. 3B), step 450. It is noted this GUI display (e.g., window 350) alsoprovides indication (e.g., symbol 360) indicating information wascaptured via the other connection method (e.g., wired connection) forthe selected device (e.g., device 10), whereupon user selection of thisindication (e.g., symbol 360) causes instrument 200 to retrieve thenetwork/captured information relating to the selected device (e.g.,device 10) from the memory/database (e.g., database 270 for wirelesscaptured information) relating to this other (e.g., wired) connectionmethod.

For instance, if wireless discovery details window 350 (FIG. 3B) for aspecific 802.11 device 10 is displayed, selection of the cross linkfilter button/indication 360 pushes the 802.11 discovery details window350 down on GUI 250 of instrument 200 and raises the wired discoverydetails window 310 (FIG. 3A) on GUI 250 on instrument 200 for the samedevice 10. Selection of a cross link button/indication 310 on the wireddiscovery details window 300 then restores the original wirelessdiscovery widow 350 details view (FIG. 3B).

Optional embodiments of the above illustrated embodiments may also besaid to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred toor indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or allcombinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, andwherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually setforth. The above presents a description of a best mode contemplated forcarrying out illustrated embodiments and of the manner and process ofmaking and using it in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as toenable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse/practice the illustrated embodiments. The illustrated embodimentsare, however, susceptible to modifications and alternative method stepsfrom those discussed above that are fully equivalent. Consequently, theyare not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On thecontrary, the illustrated embodiments encompass all modifications andalternative constructions and methods coming within the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for presenting network diagnostic information for network devices in a test network comprising: presenting in a GUI of a network test instrument acquired network diagnostic information for a network device wherein the presented network diagnostic information is acquired via a first network connection with the network test instrument; providing indication in the GUI that network diagnostic information for the network device was also acquired via a second network connection with the network test instrument, and wherein the first network connection is one of the wired and wireless connections to the test network and the second network connection is the other one of the wired and wireless connection between the test network and the network test instrument.
 2. The method recited in claim 1 further including: presenting in a GUI of a network diagnostic instrument a listing of network devices discovered via a first network connection to the test network; and determining if network diagnostic information for a device selected from the listing of network devices was acquired via the second network connection when the device is selected from the listing of network devices discovered via the first connection method.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2 further including presenting in the GUI acquired network diagnostic information for a network device selected from the listing of network devices wherein the presented network diagnostic information is acquired via the second network connection upon selection of the indication in the GUI that network diagnostic information for the selected network device was also acquired via a second network connection.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless connection comprises IEEE 802.11 over-the-air modulation techniques for connecting the network diagnostic instrument to the network devices and the wired connecting comprises IEEE 802.3 physical connection techniques for connecting the network diagnostic instrument to the network devices.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least of portion of the network diagnostic information acquired via the second network connection is different than that acquired via the first network connection for a selected network device
 6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the acquired network diagnostic information for the wireless connection comprises Wi-Fi captured layer 1 and layer 2 information.
 7. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the acquired network diagnostic information for the wired connection comprises wired captured layer 2 and layer 3 information.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the network diagnostic test instrument comprises: a first memory location for storing network device information acquired via the wireless connection between the network diagnostic instrument and each network device; and a second memory location for storing network device information acquired via the wired connection between the network diagnostic instrument and each network device.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each network device is identified in both the first and second memory location according to a same device MAC address.
 10. The method as recited in claim 1 the diagnostic information of a network device includes at least one of a power over Ethernet (PoE) voltage, a test network connection speed and duplex, a nearest switch and port identification, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) address, a response time of gateway tests, and a response time of server connectivity tests.
 11. An apparatus having a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for acquiring network device information from both a wired and wireless connection to network devices in a test network comprising: at least one network port for establishing a wired connection to the network devices of the test network; at least one wireless network interface for establishing a wireless connection to the network devices of the test network; a processor coupled to the network port and wireless network interface, the processor adapted to execute one or more processes; and a memory configured to store a instructions executable by the processor, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: present in the GUI acquired network diagnostic information for a network device selected from a listing of network devices wherein the indicated network diagnostic information is acquired via a first network connection; and provide indication in the GUI that network diagnostic information for the selected network device was also acquired via a second network connection between the apparatus and the test network wherein the first network connection is one of the wired and wireless connections to the test network and the second network connection is the other one of the wired and wireless connections to the test network.
 12. The apparatus recited in claim 11 further including instructions for causing the processor to determine if network diagnostic information for the selected device was acquired via the second network connection when the network device is selected from the listing of network devices discovered via the first connection method.
 13. The apparatus recited in claim 12 further including instructions for causing the processor to indicate in the GUI acquired network diagnostic information for a network device selected from the listing of network devices wherein the indicated network diagnostic information is acquired via the second network connection upon selection of the indication presented in the GUI that network diagnostic information for the selected network device was also acquired via a second network connection.
 14. The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the wireless connection comprises IEEE 802.11 over-the-air modulation techniques for connecting the apparatus to the test network and the wired connection comprises IEEE 802.3 physical connection techniques for connecting the network diagnostic instrument to the network devices.
 15. The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein at least of portion of the network diagnostic information acquired via the second network connection is different than that acquired via the first network connection for a selected network device.
 16. The apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein the acquired network diagnostic information from the wireless connection comprises Wi-Fi captured layer 1 and layer 2 information.
 17. The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein the acquired network diagnostic information from the wired connection comprises wired captured layer 2 and layer 3 information.
 18. The apparatus recited in claim 17 wherein the network diagnostic test instrument comprises: a first memory location for storing network device information acquired via the wireless connection between the network diagnostic instrument and each network device; and a second memory location for storing network device information acquired via the wired connection between the network diagnostic instrument and each network device.
 19. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein a network device is identified in both the first and second memory according to a same device MAC address.
 20. A graphical user interface for a test instrument, comprising: a graphical display having a touchscreen interface; a listing of network devices on the graphical display indicating each network device has network device diagnostic information acquired via a first network connection to the network device; an indicator on the graphical display indicating that network device diagnostic information for a selected network device from the listing of network devices was also acquired via a second network connection to the selected network device the first network connection is one of a wired and wireless connections to the selected network device and the second network connection is the other one of the wired and wireless connections to the selected network device. 